Spring-clasp



(No Model.)

H. ELLEAU.

. SPRING CLASP. No. 393,222. Patented Nov. 20 1888;.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ELLEAU, or sAN ERANCIsCo, CALIFORNIA.

SPRING-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 170,393,222, dated November 20, 1888.

Application filed June 2, 1588. Serial No.'275,858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY ELLEAU, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Spring-Clasps; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to that class of catches or clasps in which a spring-tongue enters an opposing mouth-piece and engages shoulders therein, said tongue being provided with abutton or knob, pressure on which relieves it from its engagment. These clasps, though applicable to many devices, are to be found prinoipally in articles of jewelry, and usually in bracelets, and it is in this connection, for the sake of clearness, that I illustrate my clasp.

My invention consists, in connection with the spring-t0ngue,of a knob or button having a threaded stem or shank seated ina fixed nut on the free end of the tongue, and constituting a set-screw for locking the clasp, at the same time that it serves, when not set up, as an ordinary pressure-knob to relieve the tongue.

The object of my invention is to provide a clasp of this character which may be securely locked, thereby avoiding accidental disengage ment by unintentional pressure on the knob. Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet, showing my clasp, the parts being separated. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of my clasp, showing it locked.

5 A is abracelet, made in two parts hinged at a. On the other end of one of the parts is formed or secured a spring-tongue, B, consisting of a strip bent upon itself, thus forming a backwardly-turned free portion or top. To

0 this portion, near its end, is secured or formed a nut, C, in which is seated the'threaded stem (1 of aknob or button,D,which is thus properly a set-screw. In the opposing end of the other part of the bracelet is formed or secured a mouth-piece, E, having shoulders e and a top slot, e. To secure the clasp, the spring-tongue (No model.)

is inserted in the mouth-piece (the shank of the knob traveling in the top slot, 6) until the free top portion of the tongue, being past the shoulders e, springs up behind and engages them. Now by pressing down on the knob D the disengagement of the spring-tongue is effected; but this pressure may be unintentional and the accidental disengagement of the clasp thereby effected. To avoid this and to lock the clasp, the knob is turned, so that acting as a set-screw it pulls upon the free top of the spring-tongue until the knob bears on the top ofihe mouth-piece, and all the parts are so bound that no play is possible and pressure on the knob cannot affect the tongue; but by turning the knob back the parts are again looscried, and pressure applied as before will effeet the disengagement of the clasp.

I do not confine my invention to bracelets, as the clasp may be used in many other artieles or devices.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A clasp consisting of aspringtongue having a fixed nut and a set-screw seated in the nut, and an opposing mouth-piece for receiving and engaging the tongue,said mouth-piece having atop slot for the passage of the shank 7 of the set-screw, substantially as herein dew scribed.

2. A clasp consisting ofaspring-tonguehaving a fixed nut and a set-screw seated in the nut, and an opposing mouth-piece for receiv- 8o ing the tongue and provided with shoulders with which the tongue engages, said mouthpiece having a top slot for the passage of the shank of the set-screw, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY ELLEAU.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, J. H. BLooD. 

